Oregon Waterway Access Permit takes effect in January

Oregon Waterway Access Permit takes effect in January

On January 1, 2026, Oregon will require paddlecraft operators to purchase a Waterway Access Permit.

Permits will be available by the week, year and two year intervals. The new law will apply to all paddlecraft 10 feet or longer. That incudes kayaks, standup paddle boards and canoes. Fees for boat registration will also increase slightly.

Fees will help Oregon fight invasive mussels in waterways, and also improve access for paddlecraft at waterway access points that are currently mostly designed for boats.

The Pacific Collector: another interesting military vessel on the river

The Pacific Collector: another interesting military vessel on the river

Today we see the Pacific Collector arriving from Honolulu, after a doing her specialized work of tracking missile defense testing. She’s one of a host of US military ships we see on the river, along with her sister ship, the Pacific Collector.

Photo credit: Daniel Ramirez from Honolulu, USA, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Minding the weather

Minding the weather

A look at today’s gusty weather and how to plan accordingly if you’re going out on a boat. One thing to remember: the experience of being on the river is very different when you are out on a boat from the way it is on land, even on the shore. And any precautions you take for the river goes double out in the ocean, where risks can be greater.

Staying safe on a boat means: prepare before you go

Staying safe on a boat means: prepare before you go

Nothing says summer like the 4th of July, comin’ right up. If you’re looking forward to boating this weekend, perhaps even in the ocean, here’s a bit about how to give yourself the best opportunity to stay safe on our challenging but beautiful Pacific Northwest waterways.